Sri Lanka blasts: Luxury hotels, churches main targets

Several high-end hotels and churches were hit by deadly bombings in several locations in Sri Lanka. Simultaneous blasts took place at a time when Easter offerings were being held.

Colombo:Around 200 people were killed in a series of blasts, targeting hotels and churches on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.

According to the reports, blasts took place in multiple locations near Colombo. Initially, six blasts were reported at three hotels in the capital and three churches holding Easter services.

The simultaneous initial blasts took place at around 8:45 am (local time) at St Anthony's church in Kochchikande in Colombo and St Sebastian church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, north of Colombo.

Sri Lanka blasts: Luxury hotels, churches main targets

A series of luxury hotels in Colombo including Shangri-La and Kingsbury were also targetted at the same time. Cinnamon Grand Hotel near the Prime Minister's official residence was also hit by the ghastly bombings.

Zion Church Batticaloa in the Eastern Province was also bombed, as worshipers gathered for Easter service.

According to the police, the seventh blast was reported near a hotel opposite the zoo in Dehiwela region of Colombo, in which two people were reported dead.

After the eighth explosion was reported at a housing scheme in Dematagoda, Colombo. Following the deadly attacks, the Sri Lankan government decided to impose a curfew.

The bombings are the deadliest in the country since the end of the civil war in 2009.

Read: Sri Lanka blasts: Over 160 killed, several injured